Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 3

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1500

USA > Delaware > Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II > Part 3

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M. He is a Republican, and an earnest party worker.

On December 20, 1865, Robert S. Downs was married to Margaret, daughter of James and Sallie Powell, of West Dover hundred, Kent county, Del. Their children are: I. Emma, at home; II. Howard C., telegraph operator at Wilmington; III. James P., em- ployee of Delaware R. R .; IV. Robert T., as- sistant chief dispatcher on the New York and New Haven R. R., near Providence, R. I .; V. Norman C., drug clerk in Wilmington. Mr. Downs is an attendant of the M. E. church.

ROBERT ANDREW BLACK, of Dover, Del., deceased, was a son of David and Ster- leno (Price) Black, and was born on the site of Milford, Sussex county, Del., October 21, 1841.

His great-grandfather, George Black, was a native of Scotland. He came to America before the Revolutionary War, and settled in Kent county, Del., near Dover. Subsequent- ly he moved a short distance south, and made his home until his death in Sussex county. He was a farmer, and a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. His remains are buried near Cedar Beach, Sussex county. A brother, Benjamin, resided near Dover about 1774. He was twice married; his first wife was Miss Perry. They had two children: I. George; II. Elizabeth. Mr. Black's second wife was Eliza- beth MeNitt.

George Black, 2, son of George Black, re- sided in Sussex county. He operated a mill there, and owned a farm to which he gave per- sonal supervision. He had three children: I. David; II. Elizabeth; III. Sarah. To David he left his farm, by will, and his daughters in- herited the mill. He died at his home and was buried by the side of his father, near Cedar Beach.

David Black was born February 23, 1803, ai Black's (now Marshall's) mills, in Sussex county, on a farm, part of which is now occu- pied by Milford. Here he was reared. When a youth he assisted his father in the mill, but afterward undertook the management of the farm, which later in life he inherited from his father's estate. He was not content with the routine life of the farm, however, and turned

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his attention to ship-building, which he follow- cd until within a few years of his death. In bis first ventures into this new field of labor he built ships by contract. Later he became a fore- man. He was devoted to his home and family. For polities he had no liking, and abstained from participation in the local, state and na- tional campaigns. He was married to Ster- leno Price, of Swiss and Welsh descent, a daughter of Thomas Price, who lived in the neighborhood of Punch Hall, and who died in Kent county. She was born February 2, 1801, and died in 1870. One of her brothers, Thomas Price, Jr., was a pilot on the Dela- ware river. Mr. Black died October 4, 1883, aged eighty years. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. His children were: I. James Mitchell, who died at twenty- six years of age; II. George Thomas, deceased; III. Sarah Elizabeth; IV. David Henry; V. William Edward, deceased; VI. Robert A. James Mitchell Black married Naomi Watson. They had two children; one is deceased; the surviving daughter is Sarah Elizabeth (Mrs. Adam Shearer), of Thurlow, Pa. George Thomas Black settled in Milford. He married Sophia Hudson. Their children are: I. Georg- iana (Mrs. David Bird); II. Sarah E. (Mrs. Thomas Hartman), of Philadelphia. Sarah Elizabeth Black married David Lank, of Kent county, Del., a ship-builder. They had five children: I. Robert John, of Milford; II. Vir- ginia R. (Mrs. Thomas P. Scott), of Middle- town, Del .; Thomas P. Scott is a descendant of Bishop Scott; III. William Edward, at home; IV. Annie May (Mrs. Samuel Haney), of Philadelphia. David Henry Black, of of Philadelphia, Pa .; V. David Henry Lank, Philadelphia, married Elizabeth Harper, of Sussex county, Del. Their children are: I. James Franklin; II. Eliza Scribner; III. Bessie (Mrs. Levi Mills), of Kent county, Del. ; IV. Joseph Holland; V. John Morton. Wil- liam Edward Black married Joanna Scott. Both died without issue.

Robert Andrew Black attended a private school nar is hot and ira her a pupil in the public schools. He was, how- ever, to a great extent a self-educated man. He took greater delight in work than in books, and his ingenious mind and skilful hand found many opportunities for their gratification. When not occupied with his duties, his knife

and a stick or block of wood were forthcom- ing, and he whittled and carved until he had fashioned many articles of various shapes and uses. When he was fourteen, he constructed a perfect schooner-rigged vessel, measuring three feet seven inches in length. While he was yet small his father removed to Milford, and he remained at home until he was eigh- teen. At the age of seventeen, however, he began working for himself at ship-carpentry. At eighteen, Robert A. Black was married to Trances Shockley and the youthful couple started for Philadelphia, scantily supplied with capital. Mr. Black succeeded readily in obtaining work at his trade, earning at first two dollars per day; as he proved a proficient worker, his services were in demand. On one occasion he asked "Buck" Fisher, a ship- builder, for employment. "Where are you from?" asked Fisher. "I'm from Delaware," was the reply. "How much pay do you want ?" inquired Fisher. "The best you pay," young Black responded. "The d-l you do! How do you know you can do my work?" came from the ship-builder's lips. The young Dela- ware artisan replied briefly: "Try me and see." He was given a good job. He did day work for fifteen years, and then returned to Milford and became foreman for his brother. After a year and a half he went back to Phila- delphia, and for a time resumed journey work. Then he sub-contracted for a number of years, and finally opened a shop in the rear of No. 750 South Second street. In 1874, during the panic, Mr. Black lost the accumu- lations of his years of hard labor, and in 1875 began again as a day laborer, this time at three dollars per day. He was foreman for Andrew White for seven years. In 1884 he went to Wyoming, Del., and established himself as a contractor. In 1887 he removed to Dover. Ile designed and erected many beautiful homes: built the bridge across Silver Lake on State street, Dover, the Priscilla block, Dover machine shops and other large structures. He was always a consistent Republican.

R.Vert A. Black was married to Frances Sinkler August 14. 1550. Their children are: I. Anna Laura, of Philadelphia; II. Mary M. (Mrs. Dr. Shannon), of Cincinnati Ohio: III. Susan (Mrs. William Watts), of Gloneester City, N. J .: IV. Frances, widow of Edward Nockle, of Philadelphia; V. David William, deceased; VI. Robert Andrew, Jr.,

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of Philadelphia. Mrs. Black died in Febru- ary, 1886. On October 31, 1888, Mr. Black married Sophia Turner, of Queen Anne coun- ty, Md., the ceremony taking place in the house in which the bride was born. Mr. Black was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church from the age of twelve years. He died, deeply regretted by his fellow-members, and his many friends and acquaintances, Octo- ber 13, 1897.

STEPIIEN K. BETTS, P. O. Frederica, Del., son of Stephen Kirk and Rebecca (Van Tilburg) Betts, was born in Bucks county, August 28, 1844.

His paternal ancestors came from England and settled in Delaware, where they received a grant of land from William Penn. His father was a native of Buckingham township, Bucks county, Pa., where he was born in 1808. He was a farmer. In 1865 he removed to the neighborhood of Milford, Del., where he cul- tivated a large tract of land. He was a stanch Democrat, and a Quaker. He died on his farm in 1890. Stephen Kirk Betts married Rebecca Van Tilburg, a descendant of a dis- tinguished family in Holland. She was a Presbyterian, and very highly esteemed. She died February 22, 1897. In the possession of Stephen K. Betts are an old Dutch Bible, printed in Holland, A. D., 1710, and a num- ber of beautiful and very valuable quilts made on the celebrated looms of Holland, and brought to America by his mother's ancestors, who settled in Kingston, N. J. One of these ancestors entertained General Washington at his inn during the Revolutionary War. Ste- phen Kirk Betts and his wife had children: I. John E., merchant of Dover, Del .; II. Sam- uel V., deceased; III. Stephen K. ; IV. Isaac W., a prominent citizen and politician of Fred- erica, Del., V. and VI. twins, Homer T., traveling agent for machinery, and Howard T., living on the home farm near Milford, Del.

Stephen K. Betts acquired his early educa- tion in the school building which was erected on his father's farm in Bucks county. He was a bright and industrious student. When the school superintendent paid his annual visits, he always made it a point to call up young Betts and put him through a severe examination. The boy was always prepared to answer whatever questions were asked him in any of the branches except grammar, in

which he was somewhat deficient. As is cus- tomary in rural districts, he worked on the farm in summer and attended school during the winter months. When he was sixteen, he determined to seek a broader field, and ob- tained a position as clerk in the dry goods store of J. R. Casselberry & Co., in Philadel- phia, at a salary of four dollars a week, which was increased every two months. He remain- ed there eighteen months, and then on ae- count of sickness returned to the farm. In January, 1865, he came to Delaware with his parents and remained with them a year. The old longing for another life than that af- forded by the farm came over him, and in 1866 he went to Philadelphia and secured em- ployment in the wholesale dry goods house of Thomas W. Davis & Co., afterward changed to Kempton, Thomson & Co., and then to William B. Kempton & Co. He began there as a man of all work, and by conscientious labor obtained advancement, until he was made a salesman at a salary of $1,050 per year. Hle was with the firm six years, and in the last year was tendered an investment in the business, but, guided by the advice of a cousin, he declined the offer; later, he regretted his cause in this matter. He returned to Dela- ware and engaged in the mercantile business, associating with him as partner, first James Quillon, and afterward William C. Quillon, brother of James. Mr. Betts continued in business until 1873, when the firm was dis- solved; then for a short time he cultivated a farm near Milford, in connection with his brother, Howard T. Leaving this farm, he next began butchering with his pros- pective father-in-law, Isaac G. Lofland. Ile came to Dover in January, 1878, and was for two years engaged in the meat business. Then he returned to Milford and established an agricultural implement, real estate and insurance agency. He took an ac- tive part in Democratie politics during these years, and on October 19, 1891, was appoint- ed prothonotary of Kent county, and clerk of the Court of Appeals of the State of Dela- ware. He held this office until 1896, when he was succeeded by William T. Hutson. Since his retirement he has been inactive, but is about to remove to Frederica, where he has a farm, and with a brother, Isaac W. Betts, will engage in the preparation of sturgeon oil for the markets. He will also deal in real es-

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tate. During his term as prothonotary he made a most creditable record, one never sur- passed by any official in the history of the comty. He was a delegate to the convention which nominated Biggs for governor and was instrumental in effecting his selection by the Democrats of the State. He rendered valua- ble services to the candidate in the campaign which followed, and because of this was strongly recommended for recorder. He was one of the most helpful of the supporters of Reynolds when that gentleman secured the Democratie nomination for governor; the of- fice of prothonotary was his reward for this work. He received the support of both parties for this position. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and formerly belong- ed to the K. of P., I. O. O. F. and the Grange.

Stephen K. Betts was married, in the latter part of 1871, to Lydia Quillon, of Milford, daughter of John C. and Sally A. Quillon. She died in 1873. On December 19, 1878, Mr. Betts married Susan P. Loffand, of Dover, daughter of Isaac G. and Anna E. Loffand. They have three children: I. Alice R .; II. Anna May; III. Claramon C. Anna May Betts is an artist of much promise. Her free- hand drawing received the first premium at the last Delaware state fair, and a special pre- mium at the Delaware State fair, of the pres- ent year. She is also gifted with exceptional musical talent. Mr. Betts is a consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterain church.

JOHN E. BETTS, P. O. Dover, Del., son of Stephen Kirk and Rebecca (Van Tilburg) Betts, was born in Buckingham township, Bucks county, Penn'a, in 1840.

The Betts family is of English origin. Of three brothers who landed at Long Island, one settled in Pennsylvania, one in New York, and the third is thought to have gone west to Tennessee and settled on a large plantation.

John E. Betts was born on his father's farm, and lived there until he was fifteen, attend- ing the public school, which was near his home and alternating his periods of study with healthful and serviceable work. When he was fifteen, he went to Trenton, N. J., and entered the Vulcan Iron Works as a machin- ist's apprentice. He mastered his trade there in five years. In 1865 he moved with his father to Delaware. He worked at his trade until 1882, in Delaware, New Jersey, Penn-

sylvania and Virginia. In 1882 he entered the mercantile business at Bowers, Del., but remained there only two years, after which he came to Dover and established the large store which he now conducts. He is an extensive dealer in notions, clothing and fancy goods, and owns the building which his store occu- pies. Mr. Betts is in full accord with the Democratic party. He was post-master at Bowers for one year, during President Cleve- land's administration.

John E. Betts was married, in Princess Anne, Md., November 15, 1887, to Cora, daughter of George and Etta (Reed) Moore, of Felton, Del. Mrs. Betts attends the M. E. church, and Mr. Betts is also regular in his at- tendance upon divine service.

THOMAS W. JEFFERSON, P. O. Dover, Del., son of Thomas P. and Lydia (Bagwell) Jefferson, was born in Millsbor- ough, Sussex county, Del., December 5, 1841.

His ancestors resided in Sussex county for many years. His paternal grandfather was William Jefferson, a highly respected citizen, who was engaged in farming during the great- er part of his life; he died at Millsborough. William Jefferson was twice married. He had three children: I. Paynter, died in 1852; II. Hannah, deceased; III. Thomas P.

Thomas P. Jefferson was born near St. Johnstown, Sussex county, Del., in 1805, and lived there until his death in 1852. He was a shoemaker, but . discarded the last for the plough, and in his latter days farmed a large tract of land. IIe was a Democrat, and was a justice of the peace at the time of his death. Ilis life was a useful one, and he was widely

esteemed. Thomas P. Jefferson married Lydia Bagwell, who died in 1882, aged seven- ty-two years. Their children were: I. Wil- lam P., farmer, of Cedar Creek hundred, Sussex county, lives on part of the old home- stead; II. Eliza A., married Robert W. S. Davis, of Milford, Sussex county, died in 1867; III. Sanmel B., farmer, school teacher and agent, died in Wilmington in 1894; IV. Ann W. (Mrs. William Donovan), of Green Spring, New Castle county, Del .; V. Thomas W .; VI. Jennie F., married to Isaac K. War- ren, farmer and school teacher, lives near El- lendale, Del .: VII. James K. P., resides near Milton; VIII. Josephine M., married An- drew J. Webster, of the vicinity of Clayton,

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Del. Thomas P. Jefferson, though not a mem- ber of any church, attended the services of the Methodist Protestant denomination. These services were held in his house before a church edifice was erected.

Thomas W. Jefferson shared the experience of many boys who have attained high places in the community. He was a farmer's lad, and was obliged to help sow and garner the harvests, and to obtain his education in the district schools during the winter months. When he was eleven years old, his father died, and when he was fourteen, as the oldest boy, he assumed the entire direction of the farm, and conducted it as profitably as did his older neighbors. When he was twenty, Mr. Jefferson began teaching in the schools of his district and continued in this profession until 1891, except during a period of six years, when he gave all his time to the farm, and during the years between 1870 and 1875, when he was a farm overseer in Kent county, Md. It was his custom to en- gage in farming each summer after he had completed the winter term of school, so that he practically never relinquished the work to which he had put his hand when a youth. During part of his time he sold farm- ing implements and phosphates. April 8, 1897, he was appointed state librarian. IIe has always been a Democrat and has been an effective worker in the ranks of his party. HIe is a member of the I. O. II. Mr. Jefferson owns a portion of the old homestead, which consists of 100 acres, on which he raises, prin- cipally, corn, wheat, and peaches. IIe was married, March 15, 1870, to Eliza A., daugh- ter of James W. and Elizabeth (Blockson) Jones, of Milton, Del. Their children are: I. Alwilda (Mrs. William T. Workman), of Milton, Del .; II. Leona Bertha (Mrs. Charles Jackson) residing near Ellendale, Sussex county. The family are members of the Methodist Protestant church.

SAMUEL L. SILAW, Dover, Del., son of William and Susan ( Finsthwait) Shaw, was born in Mispillion hundred, Kent county, Del., April 24, 1844.

Ilis grandfather, James Shaw, was born in Murderkill hundred, Kent county, and resided in that county until his death in 1817. Wil- liam Shaw, son of James Shaw, was also born in Murderkill hundred in 1815. He received

his educaion in the district schools. When he was eleven years old, he obtained a position as clerk in a store, and followed this occupation in Canterbury and Milford, Kent county. At the age of twenty-two, he married and re- moved to a farm in Mispillion hundred. In 1862 he went to Harrington, intending to en- gage in the mercantile business, but the prices of goods had been so greatly advanced by the war that he abandoned his intention, and re- turning to his farm, resided there until 1867. In that year he entered into a partnership with his sons, Samuel L. and James W. Shaw, in the mercantile business in Harrington. IIe continued in business until 1878, making a most creditable record as an honorable dealer. Mr. Shaw was a member of the Whig party, and was elected on its ticket county treasurer and afterwards. Levy Court commissioner. For some time he voted with the Know Noth- ing party, and during the remainder of his life was an carnest and influential advocate of Republican principles. William Shaw married Susan Finsthwait, of Kent county, Del. They had children: I. James W., de- ceased; II. Mary Letitia (Mrs. Rufus Jones), of Kent county; III. Samuel L .; IV. Ma- tilda (Mrs. II. C. Walcott), of Harrington; V. Amanda, died when about sixteen years old; VI. Sarah E .; VII. Caroline, died at the age of four; VIII. William, 2, of Harring- ton. Mr. Shaw died March 18, 1896, aged cighty years, ten months; his widow died Feb- ruary 6, 1897. He attended the Presbyterian church; in boyhood he was connected with the Baptist church.

Samuel L. Shaw received a thorough com- mon school education, and after he was nine- teen years old, taught for three terms in the schoolhouse in which he was educated. His early years were spent on the farm. On July 15, 1864, Mr. Shaw enlisted in Company I, Seventh Regiment, Delaware Volunteer In- fantry, and he was assigned to duty in Mary- land, but was taken seriously ill with typhoid fever and was sent home to recover. His torm of enlistment expired before he was able to rejoin his company, and he remained at home until April 10, 1866, when he established him- self in the mercantile business in Harrington. In 1867 he received into partnership his father and brother James W. AAfter two years his brother withdrew, and Samuel L. Shaw and his father continued the business

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until 1874, when they disposed of it to But- ler Bros. Three years later they re-purchased it, but in 1878 sold the stock of goods, Sam- uel L. Shaw retaining the real estate. Mr. Shaw then became an agent for farming im- plements and a dealer in grain and phosphates. In the spring of 1881, he was appointed po-t- master at Harrington by President Garfield. During his four years' incumbeney of the of- fice he continued his implement agency. Sub- sequently he resided on the home farm for two years, and then returned to Harrington, where he carried on the implement business, and as- sisted in the store of Hezekiah Harrington. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster at Har- rington by President Harrison, and served a four years' term acceptably to the patrons of the office.

In 1894, after a spirited campaign, Mr. Shaw was elected sheriff of Kent county on the Republican ticket by a majority of thir- teen, a small margin, but a gratifying ex- pression of esteem in which he was held in this Democratie county. After his election he removed his family to Dover. At the next election for sheriff, both the Democratic and Republican parties claimed the election and as they were not able to effect any adjustment of the matter, Mr. Shaw was continued in the office for another term. Ilis conduct in office has given general satisfaction; he is affable and courteous, and has many friends. Mr. Shaw has always been a loyal supporter of the Republican party. He is a member of Chosen Friends Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F .; Conclave No. 33, I. O. II .; Harrington Coun- cil, Jr. O. U. A. M., and Talbert Post, G. A. R.

On July 16, 1874, Samuel L. Shaw was married to Selina A., daughter of Martin and Araminta (Smith) Smith, of Mispillion hun- dred. Their children are: I. Nora A .; II. Carrie L .; III. Thomas N .; IV. Susan E .; V. Emma B .; VI. Harry K .; VII. Martin Luther. Mr. Shaw is a member of the M. P. church.

JOHN REED NICHOLSON, Dover, Del., son of IIon. John A. and Angelica (Killen) Nicholson, was born in Dover, May 19, 1849.

Ilis father, John A. Nicholson, was the son of Jacob Cannon Nicholson, who was born in Delaware in 1804, and grandson of

Huffington Nicholson, who came to Delaware from the north of England in 1720. Susan Fauntleroy Quarles, the wife of Jacob Can- non Nicholson, and a grandmother of John Reed Nicholson, was a Virginian, grand- daughter of Captain Henry Quarles, a Vir- ginia veteran of the Revolutionary War, and also a granddaughter of the well known Mer- riwether Smith. She was a great-grand- daughter of Colonel William Fauntleroy, of Naylor's Hole, whose niece, Betty Fauntle- roy, is romantically known as General Wash- ington's first love. IIer other colonial an- cestors were the Bathursts, Dangerfields and Brockenbroughs.

Jolm A. Nicholson, son of Jacob C. and Susan F. Nicholson, was born in Laurel, Del., November 17, 1727, but lived during his childhood with relatives of his mother, in the counties of Amherst and Nelson, Vir- ginia. He became a student at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., in 1843, and after the completion of his collegiate course, com- menced the study of law under the precep- torship of the Hon. Martin W. Bates, of Do- ver, in 1847, and was admitted to the bar in 1850, when he began the practice of the law in Dover. In the same year, Mr. Nicholson was appointed by Governor Ross to the po- sition of superintendent of the common schools of Kent county. Elected and re-elect- ed on the Democratic ticket, John A. Nichol- son represented his state in the thirty-ninth Congress, and again in the fortieth, his period of service closing in 1869, and cover- ing most of the years of "re-construction." the term of office of President Johnson. He served during his first term on the Committee on Elections, and during his second on the Committee on Appropriations. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M., and an el- der of the Presbyterian church. Of refined literary tastes and quiet habits, he has since his retirement from Congress lived in the congenial atmosphere of his library, and aside from his books, has devoted his leisure chiefly to the interests of his church.

John A. Nicholson was married August 2, 1848, to Angelica Killen, daughter of John and Mary (Stout) Reed, granddaughter of Jacob Stout, and great-granddaughter of Chancellor Killen, John Reed Nicholson lwing their only child. Mrs. Nicholson's great-grandfather, William Killen, was the

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first and only chief justice of Delaware under the Constitution of 1776, and during and after the struggle of the colonies for inde- pendence. When the State Constitution of 1792 was adopted, he became the first chan- cellor. Her grandfather, Jacob Stout, was speaker of the senate of the state in 1820; the governor-elect dying before he had taken the oath of office, Mr. Stout became acting governor. At the expiration of the term he was appointed an associate justice, and served for many years.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 3

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa. Number of Pages: 1500

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1500